Method of and apparatus for manufacturing wallboard joint tape



Nov. 21, 1939.

1.1 PAGE E'r u. 2,180,433

METHOD O1" AND APPARATUS 'FOR MANUFACTURING WALLBOARD JOINT TAPE FiledDec. 27, 1937 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 A DTTORNE J. PAGE ET AL 2,18 33 METHODOF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING WALLBOARD JOINT TAPE Nov. 21, 1939.

K c Ram N @Z W 9 NNU ,R e EH5 0 .m T N E T m 1 S A e w E e L a M w W 7 3NW0 .7 2 c e D d e l 1 F Nov.' 2l, 1939. JQP'AGE El AL METHOD OF ANDAPPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING WALLBOARD JOINT TAPE 1O Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR JOHN PHGE' C/"IBELES E. 5 UrHH/GK ATT Filed DeC.. 27, 1937 ORNENov. 21, 1939.

J. PAGE ET AL 7 METHOD OF AND APPARATUSFOR MANUFACTURING WALLBOABD JOINTTAPE Filed Dec. 27, 19s? 10 Sheet s-Shet 4 11v VENTOR JOHN PAGE CHARLESE. GUf/W/CK A ITTOR/VE Nov. 21, 1939. J. PAG ET AL 2 433 METHOD OF ANDAPPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING WALLBOARD. J OINT TAPE Filed Dec. 27, 195710 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VENTQR JOHN P465 CHARLES 2.504/7HN/6K 51 I J 50 v M254 ATTORNEY Nov. 21 1939. .1. PAGE. ET AL METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FORMANUFACTURING 'WALLBOARD JOINT TAPE Filed Dec. 27 1957 l0 Sheets-Sheet 6I'II INVENTOR JOHN PHGE WsoumW/ck Nov. 21, 1939. J. PAGE El AL I2,180,433

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING WALLBOARD JOINT TAPE I FiledDec 27, 1957 I 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 IN VENTOR JOHN PAGE CHARLES 2.5aTIMI/ck A TTORNE Y Nov. 21, 1939. J. PAGE El AL '2.l80,433 MET HOD OFAND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING WALLBOARD JOINT TAPE Filed Dec. 27, 195710 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR JOHN PHGE CHHELESE. our/mun A'TTORNE Nov. 21,1939. J. PAGE ET AL 2,180,433

METHODOF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING WALLBOARD JOINT TAPE I FiledDec. 27 193:7v 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 v I INVENTOR l JOHN 346E 0= i chm/245sR. scum ma =9 A from??? Nov. 21, 1939. J. PAGE ET AL METHOD OF ANDAPPARATUS F( )R MANUFACTURING WALLBORD J'OiNT TAPE Filed Dec. 27', 1937,10 Sheets-Sheet 10 H vv 1N VENTOR JOHN PAGE CHARLES R5 raw/0 RIVEYPatented Nov. 21,1939

amassma'mon or AND mm'ros FOE racruamo wanmoann JOINT 'r a hn e.Evanaton, and Charles R. South wick, 01110880, Ill-,aleignora to UnitedSiam Company of 'Illinoil a icago, 11]., a corporation ApplicationDecember 27, 1237, SeriaI No, 181,770

C 19 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of making a special paper tape foruse inreinforcing the joints of wallboard. The invention further relatesto a machine or apparatus suitable forearwin: out the method.

The wallboard joint tape to which we refer in this application, is thatdisclosed and claimed in the patent to John Page, No. 2,047,982 issuedJuly 21, 1936, especially the tape shown in Fig. of said patent. Thispaper tape is usually 2-4" in width and is composed of strong rope orwood fiber paper in which a substantial portion of the fibers extendtransversely of the tape to provide lateral strength. The longitudinaledges of the tape are beveledor feathered in order to provide aninvisible wallboard joint. The present invention deals especially withthe preparationof these feathered edges, and in providing said tapewhich lies perfectly fiat in a plane-ready for application to awallboard joint with cement.

-An object of this invention therefore is to" provide a method ofpreparing a feathered edgev paper tape for the reinforcement of wall.board joints.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improvedapparatusforcarrying out the wallboard tape method; also to improve methods ofand apparatus for the making of paper tapein other respectshereinafter'specified and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which- Fig. l is a plan view of a section ofjoint tape made according to my improved method,

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the joint tape shown inFig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on a large scale through an edgeof the paper tape at an intermediate state in manufacture,

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of the finished tape,

Fig, 5 is a diagrammatic elevation of a machine for manufacturing thejoint tape,

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic plan view of the machine,

Fig. 7 is an elevation of the feed end of the machine,

Fig. 8 is an elevation of an intermediate or grinding section of themachine.

Fig. 9 is an elevation of an intermediate or wetting and drying sectionof the machine,

Fig. 10 is an elevation of the delivery end of the machine,

Fig. 11 is a side elevation on a large scale of the grinding andten'sioning devices shown in Fig. 15 is a sectional elevation through agrinding machine also taken on line i l-I4 of Fig. 7, Fig 16 is asectional, elevation of one of the tape guides adjacent a grindingwheel,

Fig. 17 is a sectional elevation of one of the tapes bearing against agrinding wheel,

Fig; 18 is an elevation on a large scale of the end of a winding device,

' Fig. 19 is an elevation of an adjusting device adjacent a grindingwheel, Fig. 20 is a sectional elevation through one of the grindingwheels,

Fig. 21 is an elevation on a large scale of draw rolls shown in Fig. 8,

Fig. 22 is a plan view of the draw rolls shown in Fig. 21, I

Fig. 23 is a plan view of the tape wetting device,

Fig. 24 is a central transverse sectional elevation through one of thedrying drums,

Fig. 25 is a central sectional elevation through a drying drum'at rightangles to the section shown in Fig. 24,

Fig. 26 is a sectional elevation of tape guides taken on line 26-26 ofFig. 9,

Fig. 27 is a sectional elevationon line 21-21 of Fig. 10 showing thedraw rolls,

Fig. 28 is a sectional elevation through the tensioning device shown inFig. 10,

Fig. 29 is a diagrammatic sectional elevation showing the drive for thewinding. rolls,

Fig. 30 is a sectional plan view through a winding device taken on line30-30 of- Fig. 10,

Fig. 31 is a sectional elevation through a winding device taken on line3l-3l of Fig. 30, and

Fig. 32 is a sectional elevation through a winding device taken on line32-32 of Fig. 10,

Fig. 33 is a plan view of the delivery end of the machine, and

Fig. 34 is an elevation of a grinding wheel.

The paper joint tape 30 whose manufacture is the subject matter of thepresent application is best illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 4. The tape30 isformed of rope fiber paper, wood fiber a tape guide adjacent or thelike, with a substantial portion of the u fibers extending transverselyof the tape to give it transverse strength. The tape has a plurality ofperforations 3| in the body thereof so that when the tape is pasted overthe joint by a suitable adhesive, the adhesive will ooze out through theperforations and be levelled off at the outer surface of the tape toprovide a smooth surface for the reception of paint, wallpaper or otherwall decorations. The edges of the tape are ground to be bevelledsurfaces 32 and 33, which terminate substantially in the knife edge 34,the later lying flush against the surface of the wallboard to which itis applied without leaving any noticeable mark at the joint.

The machine for making this tape is arranged in a number of sectionsviz: a storage section A, a grinding sectionB, a wetting section C, adrying section D, and a winding section E. The paper tape is providedwith the perforations 3| bya suitable rotary perforating machine notshown. after which the tape is formed into rolls 36 which are supportedupon shafts 31 and 38 carried on suitable brackets 39 and 48,respectively, said brackets being supported upon a vertical framework4I. If desired, a standard rotary or reciprocating perforator may beprovided between the sections A and B, said perforator being synchronized with the balance of the machine. An

auxiliary standard 43 secured to horizontal frame the machine asillustrated, we have shown six' strips of. tape 38 passing continuouslythrough the machine to be subsequently described.

The tape 38 leading from upper and lower rolls 36, cross andpass aboutarotatably mounted roller 48. A similar roll 49 is provided above theroll 48 to be used when the tape rolls 36 are carried on the brackets 44and 45.

After the tape 38 leaves the roll 48, it passes to a tensioning devicecomprising a plurality of bars 54 which are 'rigidlymounted at the endsthereof in frame angles55, said angles being supported on transverseframe members 56. A pivoted support frame 51 is in the form of a ushapedbar having parallel legs 58 connected by a bar 59. The free ends of thelegs 58 are hingedly mounted upon upstanding brackets 68 by means ofhinge rod 6|. 'A plurality of plates 62 are hingedly supported at oneend on the rod 6|, said plates being arranged in pairs with a pluralityof round bars 63 rigidly connecting the two plates 62 of each pair. Thebars 63 are spaced midway between the bars 54 with paper tapes 38following a tortuous path between the bars 54 and 63 to providetensioning of said tape by friction against said bars. A rod 84 passesthrough the two legs 58, and tubular spacers 65 positioned on said rod64 serve to locate a series of blocks 86 which, are hingedly supportedat one end on the rod 64. A rod 61 extends through the free end of eachblock 85, said rods 61 being threaded to receive wing nuts 68 and 69.The lower end of each rod 61 is hingedly connected to a pin 69 whichrigidly connects the free ends of each pair of bars 62. A rod 18 extendsthrough the larger rod 64 near each end thereof, and also extendsthrough a tubular spacer 65, the upper end of said rod 18 beingthreaded-to receive positioning nuts 1| and 12. The lower ends of rods18 are each provided with a hook member 13 which detachably engage studs14 extending outwardly from the angle frame member 55. The

adjustment of wing nuts 68 and 59 serves to vary the tensioning effecton each tape individually, while the adjustment of nuts1I and 12 servesto adjust the tensioning effect on all the tapes collectively. Bydisengaging the hook membars 13 from the studs 14, the frame 51 may bemoved upwardly about the rod 6| to relieve the tension on all tapes, themovement of said frame 51 being limited by a stop member 15 whichengages a fixed point on the frame of the machine.

After the tapes 38 leave the last of the tensioning'rollers 54, theypass downwardly to engage the lower edges of a series of guide plates 11which are pivotally and adjustably secured by bolts 18 to an angle bar19, the latter being secured transversely on the framework of themachine. By adjusting the angular position of the plates 11 relative tothe vertical, the running position of the tape relative to arcuateguides 88 and 8| can be accurately controlled. Each pair of guides 88and 8| has an arcuate lower edge which cups or bows the paper tapelongitudinally and causes the edges of the tape to bear against theperiphery of a grinding wheel 81 so as to bevel the edges of said papertape. Each of the guides 88 and 8| is slidably received between legs 83of a bifurcated block 84 (Figs. 11 and 16). A rod 85 is threaded andpasses transversely through the block 84 so that when said rod 85 isrotated by an adjusting knob 88 on the end thereof, the block 84 ismoved toward or away from the grinding wheel 81 to vary the grindingeffect. The inner end of the rod 85 is rotatably received in a bearingblock 81a secured to a frame bar 88, the latter being securedtransversely of the machine to fixed frame angles 89. The end of the rod85 adjacent the knob 86 is rotatably received in a bearing block 98, thelatter being secured to a transverse bar 9| which is also secured to theframe angles 89 at each end thereof. A guide bar 92 also passes looselythrough 'each of the blocks 84 being rigidly seated at each end in thebearing blocks 81a and 98. The rods 85 and 92 thus serve to support theblocks 84 in a vertical position. The guide 88 is adjustable verticallyto vary the pressure of each tape onthe grinding wheel 81 by means of astud 94 which is connected by a pin 95 to said guide 88 and extendsupwardly through the block 84. Plates 96 are secured to the top of block84 by screws 91, said plates having opposed semi-circular recesses 98which fit around a shouldered adjusting nut 99 engaging a threadedsection on the stud 94. A lock nut I88 is also provided on the stud 94to lock the nut 99 in any adjusted position. It should be understoodthat the tape guiding mechanism is arranged in pairs, one pair for eachof the six tapes passing through the machine.

The angle bars 89 and transverse bars 88 and 9| form a carriage forsupporting all the tape guides 80. It is desirable that this carriage beadjustable vertically so that as the grinding surface of the wheel 81becomes worn, the guides can be lowered a desired distance to increasethe pressure of the tapes on the grinding wheel and thus insure uniformgrinding results throughout the life of the emery cloth on the surfaceof wheel 81. For this purpose, outstanding angle clips I82 are secured.as by welding, to the frame angles 89. Each of the clips I82 rests upona cam I83, each pair of cams being rigidly secured to a transverselyextending cam shaft I84. The ends of shafts I84 are rotatably supportedin main frame angles 42, and a lever I85 is secured to each end of eachshaft I84. A set bolt I86 extends through the free end of lever I85, theinner end of said bolt engaging one of a series of lock openings I01arranged in a semi-circle in the angle 42, a lock nut I08 being providedon the bolt I08. The lower-edge I09 of angle 89 engages the cams I03 toprevent lateral movement of the guidecarriage. Upstanding studs I I aresecured by welding to the outstanding legs I I I of frame angles 42 andpass loosely through angle clips I02 to receive a nut H2 at their upperends. A compression spring II3 between the nut H2 and the angle leg I02serves to yieldingly press the guide carriage downwardly in contact-withthe cams I03. Thus when the levers I05 are rotated a predetermineddistance, the pressure of all the tapes 30 on the grinding wheel 81 isaccurately regulated.

The grinding wheel 81 is composed of a metal cylinder II5 surrounded bya cylinder II8 of wood or other suitable material. An annular web H1 iswelded to the inside of each end of the cylinder II5, the inside annularopening in each of said webs receiving a collar I I8 which is weldedthereto. The collars I I8 are mounted on a coaxial shaft H9 and aresecured to said shaft by keys I20. The shaft H9 is rotatably supportedin suitable roller bearings I2I and I22 which are supported on standardsI23. The shaft II 9 extends beyond the bearing I22 and is connected to amotor shaft I24 driven by motor I25, by a coupling I28. Diametricallyopposite longitudinal grooves I21 and I28 are formed in the periphery ofthe wooden cylinder II 8, the sides of said grooves being provided withwearing strips I I29 which taper inwardly at an angle to the axis.

of the grinding wheel 81. U-shaped channels I30 fit into the grooves I21and I28, said channels having flaring flanges which fit the angles ofthe wearing strips I29. A series of socket headed tap bolts I3I extenddiametrically through the web of channels I30, the cylinder II8, the

cylinder H5, and are threaded into a pair of diametrically oppositeclamping bars I32. A strip of emery cloth I33 is wrapped about thewooden cylinder II8, the free ends of said strip being clamped betweenthe channel strip I30 and the wearing strips of groove I21. The centerof the strip is then pulled down tight into the groove I28 to accomplishthe stretching of the strip of emery cloth so as topresent a smoothtight.

grinding surface to the edges of the tapes. Suitable dust hoods I34 areprovided over each grinding wheel 81, each of said hoods being connectedto an exhaust duct I35 for removal of the dust by means of an exhaustfan not shown.

It is desirable that each of the grinding wheels 81 be reciprocated'axially so as to utilize all first two grindingwheels have tape cuppingsurfaces I48 (Fig. 17) of small radius so as to proof the grindingsurface of the emery cloth. For I this purpose, the bearing standardsI23 and the motor I25 are rigidly mounted on a slide table I31, thelatter being slidably supported on a base I38 which is bolted to afoundation I39. A

bracket I40 is secured to the table I31, and is provided with a hingepin I H which connects with one end of a pitman I42. The other end ofpitman I42 is provided with an eccentric strap I43 which engages aneccentric I 44 secured to a rotary shaft I45. Suitable means not shown,are provided to rotate the shaft I45 continuously and accomplish thereciprocation of the table I31. The reciprocation of the grinding wheelprolongs the life of the emery cloth 8 to times over the life when noreciprocation is used.

In bevelling the edges of the ,paper tape 30,

it is desirable that the edge of the tape be first given a sharp bevelI41 (Fig. 3) before the more inclined bevels 32 and 33 are produced. By'acduce the sharp bevels I41, while the guides for the final twogrinding Wheels have cupping surfaces I49 of longer radii, thusproducing the final gradual tape bevels 32 and 33 by cupping the tapesto a smaller extent.

The grinding mechanism in which the grinding wheel 81 at the firstposition is located below the tape, has already been described. Anidentical grinding mechanism, except for the guides 80, is located inthe third position. .The grinding wheels in the second and fourthpositions are located above the tapes. These second and fourth grindingwheels have modified mechanism (Fig. 19) for supporting the same.Bearings I5I' rotatably support a shaft' I52 on which is secured agrinding wheel. I 53. The bearings I5I are supported on verticalstandards I54 which in turn are supported on a table I55'whichreciprocates on a base I58 axially of the shaft I52 in the mannerpreviously described. Bearing plates I51v are secured to the inside ofangles 42,

said plates being adapted to rotatably support transverse cam shafts I58, each of said shafts. carrying a pair of cams I59; A'guide carriageis supported on the cams I59, said carriage comprising a pair oftransverse angles I80, the ends of which rest upon the cams I59. Angleclips I8I are secured to the anglesv I80 and longitudinal angles I82 aresecured to the clips I8I by bolts I83. Transverse bars I84 are securedto the angles I82 by bolts I85. Blocks I88 are secured to the bars I84,said blocks serving to support guide rods I81 and I88 on whichverticallyextending guides I89 are mounted in the manner previouslydescribed. Suitable vertical slots not shown are formed in the .angleclips I8I to provide clearance for the shaft I58 as said shaft moves upand down under the action of cams I59. Long bolts I10 extend downwardlyfrom angles I60 and pass through angle clips "I which are secured to theinside of plates I51, as by welding. Compression springs I12 on boltsI10 below the angle clips I1I are confined by nuts I13 on bolts I10 soas to yieldingly hold the guide,

carriage on; the cams I59. A lever I14 is. secured on one end of eachcam'shaft I58, being provided on the free'end thereof with a lock boltI15, the inner pointed end of which engages in a series of arcuatelyarranged openings I18 formed in the upper end of plate I51 so as to lockthe cams I59 in any desired position with the guides I89 exerting theproper pressure on the tapes 30.

It will be noted that the tapes are self supporting as they contact withthe grinding drums. The tapes are cupped longitudinally at the pointwhere they contact with the grinding drums, so that. the stiffness ofthe tapes exert their own pressure against the grinding drums, thispressure decreasing as the thickness of the tape edge is decreased dueto the weakness of the edge. This enables the tapes to be beveled downto a feather edge without appreciable tearing or cutting through of theedges. If the tapes were rigidly supported over the grinding drums, thetapes would not be beveled with nearly as smooth -rubber covered rollsI18 and I8I to be resuran edge as is obtained by our method of selfsupport of the tapes at the grinding drums.

After. the paper tapes 38 leave the last of the grinding wheels 81 andI53, they pass over a rubber covered draw roll I18 which is mounted on ashaft I19. the latter being rotatably supported in suitable take-upbearings I88. A second rubber covered draw roll I8I is rotatably mountedbelow the roll I18 so that the tapes pass between said rolls I18 andI8I, around the roll I8I and then upwardly to a slack take- I up deviceto be hereinafter described. A counter shaft I82. is rotatably mountedin bearings I83 adjacent the lower roll I8I. A spur gear I84v is securedto one end of the shaft I82 and meshes with a spur gear I85 which issecured to a'shaft I88 on which the roll I8I is mounted. A sprocketwheel I81 is secured to the end of shaft I82 opposite the gear I84 and asimilar sprocket wheel I88 is secured to the end of shaft I19. A chainI89 passes around the sprocket wheels I81 and I88 to a sprocket wheelI98 on the shaft I9I of a motor and reducer I92. The chain I89 thusdrives shafts I19 and I82 while shaft I88 is driven through the spurgears I84 and I85. This driving arrangement permits the faced to asmaller diameter as they wear rough. In order to keep the desiredpressure between the rolls I18 and I8I, the bearings I88 are mounted inslideways I93 and are adjustable vertically by means of hand screws I94.The draw rolls I18 and I8I thus positively pull the paper tapes undertension through the grinding zones previously described.

As the tapes 38 leave the roll I8 I, they pass upwardly to a' slacktake-up device consisting of a pair of rolls I98 and I91 which arerotatably mounted on shafts. I98 and I99 respectively, said shafts beingsupported on suitable elevated framework 288. Between rolls I98 and I91,the tapes pafidownwardly about rollers 28I, each of which is rotatablymounted on a weighted slide block 282' which is guided by verticalguides 283. As more or less slack occurs in the tapes 38, the rollers28I and slide blocks 282 rise or loweras the case may be. The tapesleaving rolls I91 pass downwardly over a curved channel guide 285 andover narrow wetting rolls 288 which are only wide enough to contact thecenter unbeveled section of the paper tapes. The rolls 288 rotate in apan 281 containing water so that the periphery of said roll 288 is keptwet. An inclined brush 288 contacts with the top surface of each tapebetween the beveled edges, said brush being kept wet by water drippingfrom a cock 289 on the bottom of a water reservoir 2I8. After thecenters of the tapes are wet,-a soaking zone 2 is provided in which thewater soaks into the tape center for about min. Thus with a tape speedof 23 ft./min.,a soaking distance of about 17 feet is provided betweenthe wetting device and the subsequent tensioning device. The wettingrolls 288 are. secured to a shaft 2I2 which is rotatably mounted inbearings 2 I3. I A chain 2 connects a sprocket wheel 2I5 on shaft 2I2with a sprocket wheel 2I8 on shaft I88.

After the tapes 38 pass the soaking zone, they ating spokes 231.

idly mounted on a shaft 238, the ends of which ards 223 so that saidangle 228 and guides 2I8 are vertically adjustable. Mounted above andbetween the bars HI and 222, is a series of short tension cylinders 225each of which is secured to the lower end of an adjusting stud 228 heldin place on frame angle 221 by adjusting nuts 228 and 229. Each of thecylinders 225 bears upon the upper surface of a tape 38 so as to forcethe traveling tape against the upper surfaces of bars HI and 222 in atortuous path with more or less pressure to individually regulate thetension of each tape. In the soaking zone 2| I the tension of the tapesis maintained at a low point so as not to rupture the tapes. Between thebar 222 and a first drying cylinder 238, the tension of the tapes isconsiderably increased in a tension zone 2221 of the tapes prevents thetapes from tearing in this stretching zone.

The tapes are dried 'while under tension by means of heated drying rolls238, 23I, 232 and 233 about which the tapes pass in a tortuous path(Fig. 9) The drying rolls are cylindrical in form and stationaryelectrical heating elements 235 (Fig. 25) in arcuate form are mountedinside said rolls to keep said rolls hot, and dry the tapes in aperfectly flat condition under tension. The drying drums 238, 23, 232and 233 are each provided with a concentric hub 238 having radi- Each ofthe hubs 238 are rigare rotatably received in bearings 239 so that saidshafts idle in said bearings. Stationary drum ends 248 are providedadjacent the ends of the heating drums, said drum ends being preferablyconstructed of a heat insulating material to confine the heat to theheating drums.

As the tapes pass from the last drying drum 238 in a perfectly flat, drycondition, they pass between a pair of rubber driving rolls 242 and 243(Fig. 28) which are rigidly mounted on shafts 244 and 245, respectively.A counter-shaft 248 is rotatably mounted adjacent the shaft 245 and asprocket wheel 241 is connected by a chain 248 to a sprocket wheel 249rigidly secured on shaft 244, said chain 248 passing around a drivesprocket wheel 258 secured to the shaft of a motor speed reducer 25I. Aspur gear 253 on shaft 248 meshes with a spur gear 254 on shaft 245 soas to cause the rotation of drive roll 245 at the same peripheral speedas drive roll 242. Take-up bearings 255 rotatably support the ends ofshaft 244, an adjusting screw 258 being provided for each hearing sothat the pressure of the rolls 242 and 243 can be adjusted. The rolls242 and 243 wear down through use due to the abrasive on the tapes, andare then turned down smooth to smaller diameter. The driving arrangementfor the rolls is designed to operate successfully as the rolls decreasein diameter.

As the tapes 38 leave the drive roll 245, they. pass over a guide table258 with a downwardly curved flange 259 which is arranged to permit aloop 288 to form in the tapes when a full roll of tape is removed fromthe wind-up mechanism to be hereinafter described. From the guide table258 the tapes 38 pass in a tortuous path between stationary spacedtensioning bars 28I and intermediate spaced bars 282 secured to a frameThis frame 283 is pivotally' secured at the forward end by a pair of eyebolts 284 having a pivot connection 285 on the framework of the machine.The rearward end of frame 263 is pressed'downwardly by means of a handnut 266 on an eye bolt 261 which is connected by pivot studs 263 to theframework of the machine.

The tapes leaving the tensioning bars 26I and 262 pass downwardly arounda stationary guide bar 216 which is secured to the framework of themachine, and thence upwardly to winding mandrels or tubes 21I ofcardboard or other suitable material. Each of the tubes 21I is removablymounted on one of the shafts 212, 213, 214, 215, 216 and 211, which arerotatably mounted in spaced parallel relation at an inclination to thehorizontal (Figs. 10 andll). As the' mecha nism associated with each ofsaid shafts is subsequently identical, only one set will be described indetail. The shaft 212 is rotatably mounted in bearings 218 and 219 andis provided near one end with a driving sprocket 286 which is rotatablymounted on said shaft 212 adjacent a stop shoulder 212a. A clutch plate28I is secured by screws 282 to the hub 283 of the sprocket wheel 286. Aclutch 284 is slidably mounted on the shaft 212 by feather key 285, andis provided with a fiber friction face 286 which bears against theclutch plate 28I. The clutch 284 is urged to the lei't as seen in Fig.30 by a compression spring 288 which is mounted on a'stud 289, said studbeing threaded into the end of shaft 212. 30 The tension of the spring288 is adjusted by a thumb nut 296 on the, stud 289 thus regulating thepressure of the fiber facing 286 on plate 28I to maintain a constanttension on the tape 36 being wound up by permitting the clutch to slip 5slightly at all times to compensate for the changing diameter of theroll of paper tape being wound up. A drive chain 29I engages all of thesprocket wheels 286 (Fig. 29) to drive the shafts 212-211 in the properdirection, said chain be- 40 ing driven from a power sprocket wheel 292.A

clutch yoke 293 has inwardly extending lugs 294 which engage an annulargroove 295 formed in the hub of clutch 284. The yoke 293 is formed onthe upper end of a lever 296, the lower end of which is connected by arod 291 to a bell cra'nk v by the operator, thus releasing thefrictionclutch 284 and permitting the wound roll to be removed and a newtube 2" substituted.

In passing to the winding tube 2', the tape 36 first passes around anidler pulley 36I which has a crown face 362 functioning to steer thelever 298 having a foot pedal 299 to be actuated paper tape exactly ontothe center of the tube 2". Edge guides are useless for the paper tapedue to the fragile feathered edges and the crown pulley operatessuccessfully to secure the desired results. The pulley 36I is rotatablymounted on one end of a lever 363 having bifurcated arms 364 betweenwhich said pulley 36I- is positioned. The opposite end of lever 363 ispivotally mounted by a bolt 365 to the end of a lever 366, the latterbeing concentrically and rotatably mounted at its inner end on shaft212. The bearing 218 has an outstanding flange 361 which lies in faceabutting position against an enlarged section 368 formed on the lever366. An arcuate slot 369 .in section 368 registers with a slot 3I6formed in flange 361, bolts 3 engaging in said slots to lock the lever366 and pulley 36I in any.

desired angular position relative to the roll of tape 3I2. As seen inFig. 10, some of the shafts 212211 will have the pulley 36I in oneangular position and others in another so as to give proper clearance tothe paper tapes. A tape measuring counter 3I3 is mounted on pulley shaft3 so that when a pulley with a circumference of one foot is used, eachrevolution of the pulley will mean a foot of tape produced. The tensionin the tapes 36 keeps the pulley 36I tightly pressed against the roll3I2.

The tube 2" is removably supported on an annular series of wedge bars3I6' which are slidably received in inclined slots 8I1 formed in theperiphery of a collar 3| 8, said collar being rigidly secured to theouter end of shaft 212 by screws 3I9. The bars 3I6 are held in place bya band 326 of spring steel encircling said bars at their inner ends,saidband326 having a transverse slit not shown to permit contraction andexpansion. In order to expand the outer diameter of the bars 3I8, so asto tightly engage the inner surface of tube 2", a disc 32I engages in aslot 322 formed in the outer end of each bar 3I6, said disc beingrotatably mounted in an annular groove 323 formed in a hub 324 of handadjusting wheel 325. A stud 326 is threaded into the end of shaft 212and is provided with a section 321 adapted to be locked within'aconcentric hole in hub 324'by a pin 328. Thus by turning the adjustingwheel 325, the outer periphery of bars 3| 6 may be contracted to permitthe removal of a full roll 3I2 and the substitution of a new tube orcore 2".

In operation the paper tapes 36 unwind from rolls 36, cross, and passabout roller 48 to a tensioning device composed of lower spaced bars 54and upper short bars 68, each carried between a pair of spaced plates62. The plates 62 are pressed downwardly about hinge rod 6| by rods 61attached to a frame member 58 through blocks 66 and hinge pin 64 so asto force the tapes to pass in a tortuous path through thetensioning.members. The tapes from the tensioning device each pass belowa pivoted guide plate 11 and then contact the lower curved edge I 48 ofa guide 86 to bow the tape longitudinally into arcuate form and pressthe edges against a grinding cylinder 81 so as to sharply bevel the 1edges of the tape as shown in Fig. 3, an upper.

and lower grinding cylinder being provided for this purpose. The guides86 are movable horizontally by turning the adjusting knob '86, and theframe 88-9I carrying the guides 86 is adjustable vertically by looseningbolt I66 and turntake-up stationary cylinder 26I, then upwardly toroller I91, after which the tapes pass under guide 265 and over awetting roll 266 which applies water to the lower center of the tape.The brushes 268 wet by water from tank 2I6 apply water to the uppercenters of the tapes, and in a soaking zone '2 this water soaks into thetapes. Guides 2I8 now space the tapes an equal distance apart, and astretching zone is provided between tensioning bar 222 and the firstdrying drum 236. Subsequent drying drums 23I, 232 and 222 complete thedrying operation, and the tapes pass between draw rolls 242 and 245 andover a guide plate 258 to a tensioning device including bars 26I and262. The tapes 6 now pass downwardly to a guide bar 210 and thenceupwardly to a guide pulley 30! which is provided with a counter 3l3. Thetape from pulley 30! winds up on a tube 211 which is carried on'expanding bars 3I6. The bars 3l6 are rotated by a, shaft 212 driven by aconstantly slipping friction clutch 284, the pressure of which isadjusted by an adjusting knob 290 engaging a spring 288. By rotating theadjusting knob 325, the bars 3l6 may be contracted in diameter so thatthe finish roll of feathered edge tape can be removed and shipped to acustomer for reinforcement over the joints of wallboards.

We would state in conclusion that while the example illustrated anddescribed constitutes a practical embodiment of our invention, we do notwish to limit ourselves precisely to these details, since manifestly thesame may be considerably varied without departing from the spirit of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent:

1. The method of preparing a flat paper tape from a tape in which theedges of said tape have been made wavy and also longer than the body ofthe tape, which comprises wetting said tape, stretching said tape whilemoist to bring said body and edges to the same length, and drying saidtape while infiat condition to produce a tape free from wavy edges.

2. The method of preparing a feathered edge paper joint tape, whichcomprises bending said 'tape longitudinally to arcuate cross sectionalshape, and pressing the edges of said tape against a rotating grindingsurface while said tape is under tension, the pressure on said grindingwheel being supplied solely by reason of the stiffness of the arcuateshaped tape under tension, said pressure varying according to the degreeof grinding and weakness of said feathered edges.

3. The method of preparing a feathered edge paper joint tape, whichcomprises subjecting the longitudinal edges of said tape to agrindingaction to reduce the thickness thereof, moistening said tape,and after a predetermined soaking period, drying said tape.

4. The method of preparing a feathered edge paper joint tape, whichcomprises bending said tape longitudinally to arcuate cross sectionalform, and pressing the edges of said tape against a rotating grindingsurface.

, 5. The method of preparing a flat, feathered edge paper joint tape,which comprises reducing the thickness of the longitudinal edges of saidtape, moistening said tape, permitting said tape to soak for apredetermined period, and stretching and drying said tape.

6. The method of preparing a feathered edge paper joint tape, whichcomprises alternately bending said tape longitudinally to arcuate crosssectional form in opposite directions, and subjecting the outstandingedges of said tape to a grinding action while said tape is in arcuateform.

'7. The method of preparing a feathered edge paper joint tape, whichcomprises subjecting the longitudinal edges of said tape to a grindingaction to reduce the thickness thereof, moistening the center of saidtape between said feathered edges, and after a predetermined soakingperiod, drying said tape.

8. The method of preparing a fiat, feathered edge paper joint tape,which comprises subjecting the longitudinal edges of said tape to agrinding action to reduce the thickness thereof, mois- .tening thecenter of said tape, permitting said edge paper joint tape, whichcomprises reducing the thickness of the longitudinal edges of said tape,moistening the centerof said tape, permitting said tape to soak for apredetermined period, and stretching and drying said tape.

10. In a machine for preparing paper joint tape, means for supplyingsaid .tape, means for grinding the longitudinal edges of said tape tofeather the same, means for moistening said tape and permitting themoisture to soak for a predetermined period, and means for drying saidtape in flat form.

11. In a machine for preparing paper joint tape having feathered edges,a plurality of grinding means, means for moving paper tape past saidgrinding means, arcuate guides of a predetermined radius for bowing saidtape longitudinally so as to cause the edges of said tape to contactwith said grinding means and produce a sharp bevel on the longitudinaledges of opposite faces, and additional arcuate guides of longer radiusthan said first mentioned guides for causing said tape to contact withadditional grinding means and produce feathered longitudinal edges.

12. In a machine for preparing paper joint tape, means for rotatablysupporting a roll of tape, means for continuously drawing said tapethrough said machine from said roll, means for applying tension to saidtape, grinding means for feathering the edegs of said tape, means forwetting said tape, means for stretching saidtape, drying cylinders fordrying said wet tape under tension, and means for winding said tape intorolls.

13. In a machine for preparing paper joint tape, means for supplyingsaid tape, grinding means for feathering the longitudinal edges of saidtape, and means for bowing said tape longitudinally during said grindingoperation.

14. In a machine for preparing paper joint tape, means for supplyingsaid tape, a cylindrical rotary grinding surface, means for bowing saidtape longitudinally and pressing the longitudinal edges against saidgrinding surface to feather said edges, and means for receiving thefinished tape.

15. In a machine for preparing paper joint tape, means for supplyingsaid tape, means for grinding the longitudinal edges of said tape tofeather the same, means for moistening said tape and permitting themoisture to soak for a predetermined period, and means for drying saidtape in fiat form. v

16. In a machine for preparing paper joint tape, a rotatably mountedgrinding element, means for passing a paper tape over said grindingelement with the longitudinal edges of said tape in contact with saidelement, and means for reciprocating said element axially during therotation thereof.

1'7. In a machine for preparing paper joint tape, means for rotatablysupporting a roll of tape, means for continuously drawing said tapethrough said machine from said roll, means for applying tension to saidtape, grinding means for feathering the edges of said tape while undertension, means for wetting .said tape, means for stretching said tape,drying cylinders for drying said wet tape under tension, and means forwinding said tape into rolls.

' 19. In a device of the class described, a plur i 10 ity of grindingelements arranged alternately above and below the path of travel of acontinuously moving paper tape, means for alternately bowing said tapelongitudinally so as to successively contact the tape edges withftheseveral grinding elements to feather the edges of said tape, means forproducing said tape in flat form,

and means for winding said tape into rolls.

JOHN PAGE.

- CHARLES R. SOUTHWICK.

